Supporting Teaching & Learning, Level 2 Apprenticeship

The Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship is applicable to learning support staff whose responsibilities at work are closely supervised and working under the direction of the class teacher.

The framework provides training for the roles of teaching, classroom and learning support assistant; special needs assistant; behaviour support assistant/co-ordinator; pastoral/welfare assistant; foundation stage assistant or team leader.

Apprenticeship programmes provide a structured paid national training route within the workplace, which is supported with on-going professional development. You will have the opportunity to undertake a ‘portfolio’ of skills and qualifications that will allow you to progress within your work environment and or progress to both further and higher education, if necessary.

The qualifications you will gain as an apprentice are:
Certificate (Level 2) in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (QCF)
Employees Rights and Responsibility workbook (ERR).
At Level 2 the total minimum number of credits that an apprentice must attain on the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) for this pathway is 45. This is achieved through completion of the Combined Knowledge and Competence qualification and the Transferable Skills qualifications:
- Functional Skills Level 1 Mathematics
- Functional Skills Level 2 English
- Functional Skills Level 1 ICT

What will I learn?

Mandatory Units include:
- Child and young person development
- Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people
- Communication and professional relationships with children, young people and adults
- Maintain and support relationships with children and young people
- Support children and young people’s positive behaviour
- Support learning activities

You will have a range of optional units to select from which include: Prepare and Maintain Learning Environments; Provide Displays in Schools; Provide Support for Therapy Sessions or Support Assessment for Learning.

How will I be assessed?

Suitable candidates are ideally expected to attend group sessions and take part in work based assessments. Candidates will also demonstrate proof of competence through their own work whilst on the programme. Methods of assessment used by the tutors and assessor are assignments, case studies, observations, witness testimonies, reflective accounts and some work products.

The candidate will be expected to produce a portfolio of evidence. Assessment and verification will be undertaken by the college. This will be carried out by qualified lecturers, assessors and internal verifier.

As part of the apprenticeship framework, reviews are completed every 12 weeks by the assessor where progress is discussed by the apprentice, assessor and employer.

Career Opportunities

Moving onto a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

This is a national qualification, achievement of this national qualification may allow you to progress to a higher level qualification (Level 3 Diploma in Specialist
Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools) or get recognition for knowledge and skills in areas of specialist practice for example progressing onto Specialist qualifications.

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements, but all candidates will need to attend an information session before starting the programme. You must be employed for a minimum of 30 hours a week in the professional area that your Apprenticeship is in (if you are looking for employment see below for information). All candidates will need to undertake a literacy & numeracy assessment prior to starting the apprenticeship training. You need to be living in England and not taking part in full-time education.

When we have received your application you will be invited into college for an interview.

Looking for Employment? See below for what to do next…

- Apply for this apprenticeship. We can then support you to find employment and prepare your job application.

- Register your details with the National Apprenticeship Matching Service (NAS) and search online for vacancies at www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

- Check the College’s website page regularly (sometimes employers only want to recruit locally and so they advertise on our website and not the NAS website): www.kendal.ac.uk/apprenticeships/apprentice/

- Make sure your CV is up to date and is relevant to the job industry you are applying to.

- Contact local businesses and see if they have any vacancies available.